When your mouth is in pain, you want quick, temporary relief – especially if you have to wait an hour or two for an emergency dental appointment.
Sure, ibuprofen will relieve some dental pain and swelling, but there are other remedies, both home and over-the-counter, that may do a better job at giving you dental pain relief. Here are just a few:
Cough drops: Cough drops or lozenges usually contain a small amount of anesthetic (menthol and sometimes benzocaine) — which means they may relieve minor tooth pain, too. Pop one or two in your mouth and suck on them (don’t chew!). Another solution? Apply a dab of Vick’s VapoRub on the outside of your cheek where your tooth hurts, then place a paper towel on your pillow and lie down on that side.
Tea bags: Another toothache reliever. Apply a hot tea bag directly to the tooth. Tea contains tannic acid, which reduces swelling.
Brandy: You can also try a cotton ball soaked in brandy, applied to the toothache. Alcohol has numbing properties.
Hydrogen peroxide: Canker sores usually go away on their own — but the pain can be excruciating in the meantime. While you’re waiting for one to heal, you may find relief by applying a mixture of half hydrogen peroxide and half water to the sore with a cotton swab, then follow with a dot of Milk of Magnesia; you can repeat this up to four times a day.
Milk: If you break a tooth, call us as soon as possible — this needs immediate attention. If you find the piece of tooth that broke off, you can preserve it at home by putting it in milk — don’t leave it on a counter, for instance, and never scrub it with cleanser. By putting it in milk, you’re helping to keep the cells alive so that they will re-grow if it’s reattached.
Whether you in severe or minor dental pain, chances are the discomfort will NOT go away unless it is examined and treated by our team here at THE SCIENCE OF SMILES®.
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